Fresh Yam, Dendrobium, Goji and Sea Cucumber Soup

Why people make this soup

Most of us have experienced an occasional strange taste in the mouth without any obvious reason. In traditional Chinese medicine, a persistent salty sensation is associated with the kidneys — specifically a state of kidney yin deficiency brought on by overwork, prolonged illness, or the natural decline that comes with age. Rather than reaching for something warming and stimulating (ginger lamb soup, ginseng and deer antler), the traditional approach is to replenish what has been depleted through nourishing, gentle foods. This soup uses a combination of fresh Chinese yam, dendrobium orchid stem, goji berries, and sea cucumber — all ingredients that TCM regards as moistening and supportive for both kidney and digestive function.